Natural Gas Safety Tips

Natural gas is one of the safest and most reliable fuels available. However, it's important that everyone in your household learn to safely operate and maintain your natural gas appliances. It's easy if you follow these guidelines:

When lighting a burner or oven with no pilot light, always light the match first, place it at the burner, and then turn the range knob.

If a burner flame goes out, shut off the range knob, wait for the gas to dissipate, then relight the burner.

Keep burners and range top clean.

Keep the area around your appliances and meter free of all combustible materials. Keep air ducts clear.

Take a few simple precautions. Secure your water heater to a wall so it won't fall over. Move flammable material away from any natural gas appliance.

After an earthquake, check to be sure nothing has fallen or spilled near a gas appliance. If you detect a gas odor, turn off the shut-off valve. Once you have your gas turned off, leave it off and call Cascade Natural Gas to restore service. After an emergency, it may take several days for us to reach you.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Safety

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a toxic, colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is produced by incomplete burning of natural gas, propane, kerosene or any other fossil fuel heat. CO comes from poorly functioning appliances, or appliances that are not vented or are incorrectly vented. Appliances such as furnaces, space heaters and even gas or charcoal grills pose a threat. Outdoor equipment such as portable generators, heaters and stoves also can create dangerous levels of CO in cabins and hunting/fishing shacks.

CO can be especially dangerous during the winter when homes are sealed up tight. The best ways to protect your family from CO are to:

Ensure that fuel-burning appliances are installed, maintained and used properly and safely. That includes having an annual inspection of heating and venting equipment by a qualified technician.

Never let a vehicle idle inside an attached garage, even with the door open. The CO from the exhaust can collect in the garage or go inside the home.

Install CO detectors on every level of your home. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation and location of CO detectors. Check and replace batteries in CO detectors on a regular basis.

Warning Signs of CO Poisoning Since the symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu, victims often don’t realize the cause of their illness. CO poisoning symptoms can occur immediately or more gradually after longterm exposure. Symptoms do not include a fever, but do include:

Dizziness

Confusion

Shortness of breath

Nausea

Headaches

Fainting

Tightness in the chest

If you suspect CO poisoning, get fresh air immediately. If exposure continues over a long period of time, CO poisoning can lead to brain damage or even death. If the symptoms are not accompanied by fever, if everyone in the family is ill, or you have pets acting strangely and the symptoms disappear when you leave the house, it could be CO poisoning.